Edward C. von Wolffersdorff died peacefully on June 3, 2009. He was born on April 1, 1920, in Sea Cliff, Long Island, N.Y. Mr. von Wolffersdorff’s parents passed away when he was a young teenager, and he was raised by his oldest sister.

After graduating from Glen Cove High School, Mr. von Wolffersdorff worked for the Merchant Marine, then operated a fishing boat with his brother, Orville. They were eventually forced to quit the fishing business when their boat caught fire. During WWI, Mr. von Wolffersdorff worked as a tech rep for Republic Aviation, working on the P-47 Thunderbolt in China and India. After the war, he continued working for Republic Aviation, this time at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He developed a flight test program in which he worked with the experimental XF-91, as well as the F-84F and F-105 Thunderchief, and worked with test pilot Chuck Yaeger.

In 1966, he went to work for the Boeing Company in Seattle, first as Product Safety Manager on the SST (Supersonic Transport) and, later, the 747. He was also called to testify before Congress on aircraft safety matters. He retired from Boeing in 1985.

Mr. von Wolffersdorff’s passion in life was sailboat racing. When he retired, he started his second “career,” writing the “The Racing Rules” column for 48 Degrees North, a local monthly sailing magazine.

Mr. von Wolffersdorff is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, David (Sharon) and Joy (Melanie); granddaughters, Adrienne and Amelia; niece, Louanne Boeckem; stepson, Joe Schutten; stepgrandchildren, Mike, Carolyn, Cyra and Lisa Schutten; and nephews, Eddie and Eric. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 12, at Corinthian Yacht Club, Shilshole Bay Marina, 7755 Seaview Northwest, Seattle. Remembrances are suggested to The Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, Attn: Development Dept., 12721 30th Ave. N.E., Suite 101, Seattle, Wash., 98125.